Weaving Words of Witness: “Threads of Palestine” anthology launched
A global effort bearing poetic witness to what’s passed, but also aiming to inspire hope, courage, and action on the road to a free Palestine, where everyone lives in peace, justice, and harmony.
In the struggle against oppression and injustice, everyone has a role to play. Whether it’s through prayer or protests, boycotts or speaking out, amplifying the truth online or even making films and visual media, every effort matters. Every piece fits into the whole.
For poets, words are our contribution – bearing literary witness to the tragedy of this time – the savagery of mass murder, mutilation, cruelty, and crimes beyond belief; but also the triumphs – the unprecedented rise in consciousness amongst those who were previously blinded from the reality of a 76-year long ethnic cleansing campaign in a land revered by billions worldwide.
Whether the truth had been kept from them by the dominant modern-day forces of colonialism, or they were simply indifferent because it didn’t affect their day-to-day lives, the sheer scale of tragedy – broadcast to every corner of the world via technology – has shown them the horrors of what’s going on in Palestine. And now that they’ve seen it – now that they’ve woken up – it’s impossible for them to go back to sleep. It’s impossible to return to ignorance or indifference once you’ve seen reality.
And as poets, we bring forth the sentiments of these masses in a unique way. We express the emotions and thoughts which so many share but are unable to convey as eloquently as we can in verse. We are called by a purpose higher than ourselves. We are moved to use our gifts to shine a light on those whose struggles deserve far more attention than our own.
Those of us who are not direct victims of these atrocities sit from afar – looking in – and soak in the sadness and frustration, the outrage and burning anger. We internalise the myriad intangible sentiments floating all around – felt but unseen – and we distil it into words which we hope captures these extraordinary times.
It’s said that one of the purposes of writing is to affect the heart. And, through these poetic expressions, we squeeze out all that we – the collective witnesses to this genocide – have absorbed, and present it as living, breathing records which are preserved in ink, ready to remind, inspire, and comfort current and future generations who must never, ever forget this despicable chapter of human history.
Threads of Palestine anthology launched
Over the past year, I’ve been honoured to work with a writing school called House of Amal on a collection of poems by our community members focusing on the genocide in Gaza. From over 130 submissions, we’ve selected 35 pieces to comprise the new book entitled Threads of Palestine: Weaving Words of Witness.
With contributors hailing from Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, USA, South Africa, the UK, India, and more, this was truly a global effort. The book is now available for purchase, with 100% of the proceeds going to the Zakat Foundation Of America to aid families in Gaza with medical assistance, food, hygiene kits, other essentials.
If you’d like to purchase a copy, do so here: https://www.houseofamal.co/anthology. (But those in South Africa wanting the paperback can order here.)
May this book bear witness to what’s passed, and inspire hope, courage, and action on our journey to a free Palestine, where all people live together in peace, justice, and harmony.
Below, I’ve shared one of my favourite poems from the collection, as well as a reading from one of the others:
